Cigarette and similar case



Dec.'5, 1939. E. HAMNEERLING 2,131,993 7 CIGARETTE AND SIMILAR CASE Filed July 19, 1939 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII7I!IIII) vIIIIIIIII/Ilfit INVENTOR EMANUEL HAMMERLING EE-QC- BYMAM ORNEY Patented 1939 UNITED STATES,

, 2,181,993 7 CIGARETTE AND smmm CASE Emanuel Hammer-ling, Woodmere, N. Y., assignor to Harry Richman Novelties Corp.

Application July 19, 1939, Serial No. 285,274,

1 Claim.

the type having a rcctangularly shaped and dished plate forming one closure side of the case and a pair of flap sections or covers, which are 5 likewise dished, hingedly connected to parallel edges of the plate and forming the closure for the other side of the case. The aspect ratio of the plate and the shapes of the pair of flap covers .or sections, are usually made so that the case strikingly .resembles a mailing envlelope. One'of the objects of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive catch orfasteningarrangement for the two flap covers which, in addition, will be sturdy and made so that it will not 5 be put out of order by the rather abusive and careless treatment devices of character usually received. An' allied object is to provide a catch arrangement which would dispense with the needoi a separate pin or other extra part,

and in which one of the catch element is an aperture andthe other cooperative element is punched out of the metal of theflap coverynot only is this a less expensive catch means but the possibility of the pinbecoming loose and inoperative is'obviate'd. It is a further object of this invention to devise acatch or fastener that will facilitate and make easier in operation, the one-hand opening and closing of the case, which is a desirable feature of this type of cigarettecase. Another object of the invention is to provide a simple retainer for holding the cigarettes in place within the case, and to provide such a retainer and arrangement that when the case is opened, the end portions of the cigarettes will be exposed for ready and facile abstraction from the case. A still further object of the invention is to provide a simple arrangement for the retainer enabling it to be snapped into position retaining the cigarettes firmly in place and out of retaining position when it is desired to reload the case with cigarettes.

While the above statement of some of the objects'of the invention and the ensuing description and illustration refer to acigarette case, it is evident, and sointended, that the invention may apply equally well to any. other case, container orcompact, and irrespective of the particular articleor articles contained therein; For the attainment of these and such other objects as may appear or be pointed out} I have shown an embodiment of my invention on the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a rear view of the case with the flap v sections in closing position; j

This invention relates to 'cigarette cases of Fig. 2 is a rear view of the case with the flap sections'in open extended position;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a portion of the case, showing particularly the retainer plate in loading position.

Fig. 4a is an enlarged detail, in section, of the catch mechanism, in the position of the flaps as they are about to be snapped close; Fig 4b shows the flaps in closed orv locking position; Fig. 4c shows the flaps in position as the case is being opened; 3

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail, in plan, of the protuberant element of the catch arrangement; and

Fig. 6 is a front view of the protuberance shown 15 in Fig. 5.

The re'ctangularly shaped and dished plate l constitutes one of the closing sides (more particularly, the front) of the case. Along one (prefe erably the larger, as shown) edge of theiront ea plate! there is articulated, as by a spring-pintle hinge 2, a minor flap cover 3; to the parallel edge of the plate is articulated by a similar springpintle .hinge '4,-a major flap 5. In the usual manner in which the case would be held and an,

operated, the minor flap 3 would be the upper one, as shown in Fig. 1. Also, in the closing position of the two flaps, the minor flap 3 will overlie the major flap 5 as likewise appears in Fig. 1; so that the minor and major flaps may be so termed, respectively, upper and lower in both, the sense of positional relation and also in the sense of overlying relation.

The upper or minor flap 3 is considerably smaller than flap 5 and also differs therefrom in outline, as will be at once apparent from Fig. 2. For onething, flap 3 has a V-shaped outlinecoming to a central point as shown, closely in the manner of the closing flap of a mailing envelope; flap 5, on the'other hand, has a'V-shaped cut-out 40 or re-entering angle as shown, the intersecting point of which, like the tip of flap 3, is centrally positioned. The reasons for this particular formation of the flaps will be presently set forth. The dimensions of the two fiaps are such that 45 there is a slight overlapping-as shown in Fig. l, with the smaller or minor flap 3 in overlying relation to simulate the appearance of an envelope.

The front plate I and the pair of rear flaps 3 and 5 are dished-so that sufficient clearance is provided within the case when the plate and flap sections are brought into closing relation, for holding cigarettes.

Within the case I provide a retaining member flap cover 5 when in retaining position as shown in Fig. 2. The width of flanges 1 is made such that the space between the retaining plate 6 and the cover section 5 will be of the proper distance to hold the cigarettes firmly inplace. The

two side edges of flap section 5 areprovided with inwardly turned lips 8. The flanges 1 of the retainer are provided with punched detent points 9, which snap past the lips 8 of thecover section when the plate 6 is pressed to retaining position, the detent points underlying the lips' and thus holding the retainer in position. When it is desired to load the case with cigarettes, the retainer plate is simply turned away from the flap 5, as shown in Fig. 3. It should be observed that the retainer plate need not be disturbed in abstracting cigarettes from the case, as these may be readily removed as will now be described.

, The width of themajor or lower flap 5, i. e. from its hinged edge (4) to its distal :edge, see Fig. 2, is made shorter than the length of cigarettes, shown in dot-and-dash lines in the said figure, so that a cigarette, or several of them, may be grasped by the exposed end portion and readily withdrawn in a lengthwise direction. It should be further observed that the V-shaped cutout or re-entering angular distal edge of major cover section 5 provides clearance and exposes considerable "length of the cigarettes for grasping.

Cigarette cases of this type are intended for single hand operation, that is, holding the case in one hand-say, the right handthe case may be opened by pressing (with the thumb) upon the major or lower flap 5; whereat, the minor or upper fiap 3, urgedby the spring hinge 2, flies open. By a movementof the thumb away from the palm of the hand, the lower flap 5, urged by the spring hinge 4, will follow the thumb and swing open. The cigarettes are thus presented for facile abstraction, the ends extending from the major flap, but retained between the flap and retainer plate 6. lower flap 5 is first closed against spring 4,'by

the thumb, and then the upper, smaller flap 3' is closed, against spring 2, by the fingers. To recapitulate, the case is opened by pressing upon the flap 5 and closed by pressing upon the flap 3.

The fastener or catch of this invention will not only achieve this effect butdoes so in a manner that makes the device commercially and practically useful. More particularly, I have pro-' vided a very simple and inexpensive fastener, comprising an aperture I3, preferably of rectangular shape as shown, in the minor or upper flap 3 and a very specially designed protuberance I 5'punched out of the major or lower flap 5 and cooperative with the aperture, as will now 'be described.

Protuberance l5, see Fig. 4a, is punched out of the metal of the flap 5 to rise an extent above the top surface of the flap a trifle greater than the thickness of the upper flap 3 (or flap 5, for that matter, since the flaps and perhaps also plate I; would be fabricated of the same gauge metal). that its arch 'or hump faces the intersectingpoint of the re-entrant cutout of flap 5, see Fig. 5, the leading edge I4 of the protuberance being turned away from that point. The thickness of In closing, the major or' The protuberance is punched out so leading edge I! is substantially (or a little less) the thickness of the metal of the flaps. The protuberance is punched out to provide side wa or braces H, see Figs. 4a and 5, which side braces 'are undercut (l2) to form the said leading edge l4 into a projecting lip.

The parts, namely, upper flap 3 and lower flap 5, are shown in Fig. 4a intheir respective and cooperative positions as the case is being closed. It will be observed that the upper flap 3 rests at a point A, which is the distal edge of'aperture l3, upon the top of protuberance l5. As the upper flap 3 is pressed downwardly the'lower flap 5 is caused, by the transmission of pressure at point A, to bow slightly. .This causes a movement of the resting point A of. the upper flap relative to the top surface of'the protuberance, in a rightward direction (as viewed in Fig. 4a) untilpoint A, which is the leading edge-of aperture l3 as already mentioned, falls off the top of the protuberance and snaps over the leading edge or lip It as shown in Fig. 4b. It should be .noted that the flaps are held in locked position by reason of both the bowing or springing of the lower flap (as mentioned) and the urgency of the two hinge springs 2 and 4. 1 In opening the case, pressure is exerted upon the lower flap 5 which becomes bowed slightly under the direct pressure of the finger (or thumb). and causes a movement of the protuberance l5 downwardly in aperture l3 of the upper flap. Inasmuch as the extent of the undercutting or recess I 2 is slight and the overhanging lip l4 very thin, a small movement (or pressure upon the lower flap) suffices to remove the protuberance from underlying relation to the apertured edge of the upper flap (see Fig. 4c). Continued pressure on the lower flap removes its protuberance entirely from the abutting relation of Fig. 4c, and frees the upper flap which thereat flies open under the urgency of hinge spring 2.

Cigarette cases are subjected to rather rough andcareless treatment and, in order that a fastening arrangement be commercially useful, it must be made in a manner to' withstand rough treatment and abuse. Unlessthe catch mechanism is properly devised, it will soon'go out of commission. Consider, for example, the protuberance l5, Fig. 4a; it must, for one thing, withstand considerable pressure at the point A as pressure is placed upon the upper flap in the closing operation; which pressure, as already explained, is transmitted by the-protuberance l5 to the lower flap 5 of which the protuberance is an integral .part. Unless protuberance I5 is properly made, this exertion of pressure at point A will inevitably and soon squash the protuberance by pushing it down, back into the plate from which it had been punched. I have been able to devise and make a protuberance which will withstand this rather severe punishment. A threesided or U-shaped slit a, b, c, Fig. 5, is made and the tongue of the slit is punched and formed into the protuberance I 5 as shown, Figs. 5, 6, and 4a. The said walls or braces ll of the protuberance, in addition to serving as'abutments at bination of a rectangular dished plate. major and minor dished flaps connected to parallel edges of the said plate by spring hinges, the minor flap being centrally provided with an aperture spaced from the distal edge of the flap to provide a distal portion and the major flap being centrally from the said distal edge of the major flap, the

said side braces oi the protuberance being pro-- vided with a slight recess to form the said leading edge 02 the protuberance into a slightly projecting lip, the said flaps overlapping each other with the minor flap overlying the majorvflap, the said aperture and said protuberance being so distanced from the hinged connections of the respective flaps to the said plate that as pressure is applied to the minor flap to turn it in a clockwise direction relative to its hinge conection, the said distal portion oi the minor flap rests upon the said arch oithe protuberance to turn the major flap in a counterclockwise direction relative to its hinge connection .and against the spring thereof, the two flaps turning relatively to each other until the said distal portion of the said flap slips oil! the said protuberance arch of the major flap and snaps under the said projecting lip of the protuberance.

EMANUEL Inlnliill II (3, 

